Unit 10, Lesson 03 - Equipment Regulations

1. Headlights - All vehicles, except motorcycles, must have at least two operational headlights (one on each side), which are white in color and can shine 350 feet on high beam and 100 feet on low beam. All vehicles must have a high-beam indicator light. 
2. Tail & Stop Lights - Vehicles must have two red tail/stop lights mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The lights must be visible from 500 feet to the rear in normal sunlight. One tail/stop light is permissible on motorcycles and certain vehicles manufactured prior to 1956.
   
3. Turn Signals - Two red, yellow or amber lights must be mounted on the rear of the vehicle and two white, yellow or amber lights must be mounted on the front of each vehicle. These lights must be visible from 100 feet in normal sunlight. Turn signals are not required on vehicles manufactured before 1953 if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.
4. Parking Lights - One or more white or amber colored lights are to be mounted on the front of each vehicle.
5. License Plate Light - All vehicles will have one white light mounted on the rear of the vehicle so that the license number may be clearly read at a distance of at least 50 feet. This light may be part of the tail lamp assembly
6. Reflectors - Vehicles must have one amber reflector on each side of the vehicle located at or near the front, and one red reflector on each side located at or near the rear of the vehicle. The reflectors must be visible from 500 feet at night and must be placed not less than 15 inches nor more than 60 inches above the ground. If the highest part of the permanent structure is less than 15 inches, the reflectors must be mounted as high as possible.
   
7. Clearance Lights - Buses, R.V.s, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must have two amber lights on the front and one on each side. Two red lights are required on the rear and one on each side at the rear. Lights must be visible from 500 feet at night.
8. Side Mark Lights - Buses, recreational vehicles, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must have two side markers on each side (amber in front and red at the rear). The lights must be visible at night from 500 feet to the side.
9. Flags and Lights for Extending Loads - Each vehicle which carries a load extending four feet or more beyond the bed or body of the vehicle must display two flags or lights located on the rear of the load.
   The flags may be used during daytime only and must be at least 12 inches square. Lights are for use during nighttime and must be visible for at least 500 feet. Some loads may also require red reflectors in addition to the lights.
10. Red or Blue Lights Visible From the Front - Red or blue lights that are visible from the front of a vehicle may not be used except by emergency, school, snow removal, or other authorized vehicles.
11. Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem
    All vehicles limited to speeds of 25 mph or less must display the approved red and orange emblem. The emblem should be placed at least three feet above the ground and as near as possible to the rear center of the vehicle.
    
12. Brakes - All motor vehicles must have brakes which meet federal standards on all wheels. An exception to the law is any truck or truck tractor with three or more axles, which must have brakes on all wheels except the front wheels.
    NOTE: Consult the Utah Highway Patrol or the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration for brake requirements on trailers.
13. Parking Brake - All vehicles, except motorcycles, must be equipped with one functional parking brake.
14. Horn - All motor vehicles must have one functioning horn which must be heard under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet.
15. Windshield - A windshield is required on all vehicles except motorcycles.
16. Windshield Wipers - All vehicles with windshields must have at least one wiper adequate enough to clean rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield. If your vehicle was originally equipped with two windshield wipers, both must function properly. A wiper system with two or more speeds is required on all vehicles manufactured after 1967.

17. Sirens, Whistles, and Bells - Only authorized emergency vehicles may be equipped with sirens, whistles, or bells.

18. Safety Chains or Cables - All towed vehicles, in addition to regular hitches or couplings, must have one chain or cable strong enough to prevent the vehicles from separating.
19. Pollution Control Devices - Owners of vehicles equipped by the manufacturer with pollution control devices are required to keep and maintain the equipment as effective as the original equipment.
    NOTE: This law does not apply to vehicles altered to use propane, if the emissions meet all existing standards.
20. Mud Flaps or Guards - Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,500 pounds or more, any vehicle with altered suspension or tire size, or any trailer with an unladed weight of 750 pounds or more shall be equipped with wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons behind the rearmost wheels. The flaps or guards must be at least as wide as the tires and made of metal or flexible material which will prevent most road materials from being thrown into the windshield of any following vehicle. The ground clearance must not be more than 50% of the diameter of the wheel that is on the rearmost axle, nor more than one-fifth the distance from the center of the diameter of the rearmost axle to the flaps
    
    Ventilated or louvered aerodynamic mudflaps on truck: By Avgjoejohn316 (Own work), CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
21. Flares, Reflectors, Electric Lights, and Flags - Trucks, truck tractors, and buses must have three flares, portable red emergency reflectors, or red electric lights and two red flags with standards
    Emergency flares, reflectors, and lights must be capable of being seen and distinguished at a distance of not less than 600 feet. Flares must be capable of burning for twelve hours. Fusees must meet the New York Bureau of Explosives Standards and burn for at least 15 minutes. Vehicles transporting explosive or flammable materials may not use flares or fusees.
22. Fire Extinguisher - Although fire extinguishers are not required for all vehicles, it is recommended that all drivers carry at least one. By stopping a fire in its early stages, you can avoid expensive property loss and prevent an extremely hazardous condition. Fire extinguishers, however, are not effective unless handled properly.

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